Van Cleef, Lee, 1925-1989

Notorious Western film villian Lee Van Cleef was born Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Jr. in Somerville, New Jersey to Marion Lavinia Gilbert Van Fleet and Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Sr. on January 9, 1925. Van Cleef attended Somerville High School before dropping out in order to elist in the United States Nacy in 1942. He worked as a sonarman on the U. S. S. Incredible in Mediterranean Sea, before moving to sweeping seabeds near Russia.

Van Cleef returned to civilian life as an accountant in New Jersey. While working in New Jersey, he performed in plays, before Harold Anderson discovered him in Heaven Can Wait. After working fourteen months with Anderson, Van Cleef starred in his first film, High Noon. He was notorious for portraying the villian in "spaghetti" Westerns, his most notable role coming in The Good, the Bad and he Ugly.

Van Cleef married three times in his life. HIs first marriage was to Patsy Ruth Kahle on December 10, 1943 in Pasquotank, North Carolina. He then married Joan Marjorie Drane on April 9, 1960. His final marriage took place on July 13, 1976 in Carson City, Nevada to Barbara Hevelone. Van Cleef died on December 16, 1989 in Ventura, California.

Source:

AP News"Actor Lee Van Cleef, Villain In Hundreds Of Westerns", Last modified 2021. https://apnews.com/article/2605778957043863d0c9dde89d02c6fb.

Genealogy files about "Lee Van Cleef." Accessed on October 21, 2021 on FamilySearch.org.